70 - "The Exorcist" (1973)

     Absolutely one of the most intense and scary motion pictures ever put on film. William Peter Blatty wrote both the novel and the screenplay for the movie. It tells the story of Chris MacNeil (Ellen Burstyn), an actress and single mother who becomes concerned when her 14-year-old daughter Regan (Linda Blair) starts exhibiting strange behaviors and is prone to fits. She calls Father Karras (Jason Miller), a young priest who has recently been questioning his faith due to his mothers illness. When Father Karras meets Regan he determines that Regan has been taken control of by the devil and recommends that an exorcism be performed. They contact Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow), who along with Father Karras, begin the exorcism ritual on Regan. The scenes from this point of the film to the end are some of the best ever filmed in the horror genre. The Exorcist would go on to win Oscars for Best Sound and Best Adapted Screenplay, one of the few films in the horror category to be honored by the Academy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Picture but lost to The Sting. As someone who has seen both films....yeah, the Academy missed that one. If you've never seen The Exorcist and want a good old fashioned scare, what are you waiting for? See it.